Delta Addresses Casey Cagle’s Threat Over NRA in Stinging Rebuke: “Our Values are not for Sale”

Delta Addresses Casey Cagle’s Threat Over NRA: “Our Values are not for Sale” [Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons]Delta addresses Casey Cagle’s threat to strip the airline of a tax exemption because it cut ties with the National Rifle Association saying, “our values are not for sale.”

CEO Ed Bastian wrote in a memo to Delta’s employees that it is reviewing its relationships with all “politically divisive” groups.

While Delta’s intent was to remain neutral, some elected officials in Georgia tied our decision to a pending jet fuel tax exemption, threatening to eliminate it unless we reversed course. Our decision was not made for economic gain and our values are not for sale. We are in the process of a review to end group discounts for any group of a politically divisive nature.

None of this changes the fact that our home is Atlanta and we are proud and honored to locate our headquarters here. And we are supporters of the 2nd Amendment, just as we embrace the entire Constitution of the United States.

I have tremendous respect and admiration for Governor Nathan Deal, and thank him for the work he has done on the jet fuel tax exemption. He is a great friend to Delta. I know this action by the state legislature troubled him as it does all of us.

I know it is not comfortable to be caught in a highly emotional debate, and many of you have received questions from customers. We are at our best when we bring our customers and our world closer together. Hopefully, our decisions this week will serve this ultimate cause.

The threats from Cagle and other state Republicans fell on deaf ears with Delta. Casey Cagle, has with one tweet, impacted big companies moving to Georgia.